A healthy Easter basket for kids

March 8, 2018 · 1 Comment

A healthy Easter basket for kids

Easter is here yet again and I thought I would share with you some healthy, ethical and natural ideas for the kids’ Easter baskets.

I know Easter can be one of those occasions that can easily become excessive and overly commercialised. Dealing with family members and outside influences that don’t support your healthy choices can be very stressful. Check out my hints on how to navigate this with humour and grace.

What family traditions do you have for Easter? What are you putting into baskets? Let us know in the comments.

♥ The Basket

Finding a gorgeous basket you can re-use year after year is a great eco-friendly option. You can also have a hunt around the house for some boxes, bags, tins or baskets you could upcyle, decorate and use!

♥ Ethical Woven Seagrass

I love this biodegradable, hand-made, woven seagrass basket for a simple reusable option. You can embellish with ribbons or wind some pom poms around the top to get a different look every year. You can also reuse it for storage around the home and pop it in the compost when it’s getting ratty.

Get it here.

♥ Handmade, personalised baskets

Head over to Etsy to see a huge range of handmade Easter baskets. Many can be personalised making them a gorgeous gift. Check it out here.

♥ Chocolate

I am a huge advocate for fair-trade and ethical chocolate. If you are not buying something you know is fair-trade, then chances are child slavery is involved in the cacao production. You can get a good range and always be assured that the chocolate is fair-trade and ethical here.

♥ Boobook Chocolate Eggs

These Boobook eggs are caramel filled and chocolate coated. Organic, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, they are new to Loving Earth. A whopping half of the profits will go to The Great Forest National Park campaign. Get them here on sale!

♥ Moo-Free Rosie Rabbit

Rosie is a vegan, organic, dairy free, gluten free, soy free choccy rabbit. Moo Free also do larger chocolate Easter Eggs as well. Find them here.

♥ Gingerbread Rabbits

I am a long time lover of these gingerbreads. Hand-made in the Blue Mountains, Karen and Dom lovingly create great quality food in compostable packing. These bunnies are gluten-free, nut-free, egg-free, palm-oil free, vegan and contain no artificial weird stuff. They also come in chocolate.

Find them here.

♥ Oscar the Orangutan

These cute little Oscar bars are organic, gluten free, dairy free, palm oil free, refined sugar free, vegan and ethically made. Five cents from every bar goes to The Orangutan Project, to help conserve orangutans and their habitat. They also come in white chocolate flavour. Find them here.

♥ Easter toys and gifts

♥ Easter Bilby Book

Any excuse for a new book is a good idea in my book! This Easter Bilby book from Aussies Nette Hilton and Bruce Whatley. is so charming and will make a lovely family tradition. Get it here in hard back or soft cover.♥ Jack ‘n Jill Bunny Toothbrush

Look I am just being practical here! 😀 Good teeth brushing is important after the Easter chocolates, so make it fun with this cute bunny tooth brush from Jack ‘n Jill. It’s also completely bio-degradable and toxin-free. Find it here.

♥ Peter Rabbit money box

We have some of these gorgeous Wedgwood Peter Rabbit pieces. They make a lovely heirloom gift and they also come in bowls and cups too. Check them out here.

You could also add some small things to the Easter baskets like crayons, colouring books, crystals and small wooden toys.

Want some more Easter ideas?

Healthy homemade Easter eggs

Healthy Hot Cross Buns

Healthy Easter ideas

Cool ideas for Easter that aren’t chocolate

Your complete guide to a healthy Easter

Your complete guide to a healthy Easter

March 16, 2016 · 8 Comments

Your complete guide to a healthy Easter

Easter is early this year!

One thing I have noticed you all chatting about is how overwhelming all the chocolate is at Easter time. Well-meaning friends and family love to spoil our kids and it can all get a little crazy. It’s worthwhile establishing some boundaries around this if you feel uncomfortable. One of our gorgeous mums made a cute graphic saying ‘thank you but no gifts for Easter’ and shared it amongst her family and friends. Great idea!

There is also a huge amount of horrible chocolate out there – full of nasty additives, palm oil and fillers and produced in an unethical way. My thoughts are always quality over quantity! Get some really good, quality chocolate and just have a little amount. The same goes for hot cross buns – make them yourself with high quality ingredients and you will be less inclined to eat dozens of yucky supermarket ones.

Here are my top picks for Easter this year…..

♥ Healthier Chocolate

If you are after healthier or allergy friendly Easter Eggs and chocolate, check out the range at Biome.

I always recommend you look out for chocolate that is fair trade and free of palm oil. Unfortunately, chocolate production comes with issues such as deforestation, environmental pollution, child slave labour and unethical payment of workers. It pays to know where your chocolate is coming from and how it is produced.

♥ Cute Ideas for Easter Baskets

♥ I love the chocolate gingerbread bunny biscuits from Gingerbread Folk. They are individually wrapped so perfect for the Easter Egg Hunt too.

♥ Add in a cute bunny toothbrush to help get rid of all that sugar off the teeth! Find them here.

♥ I always used to include a book at Easter time when my kids were small! Check out the beautiful selection of Easter themed books here.

Homemade Chocolate, Buns and Bums.

♥ Special Easter Baking Pack. Cyndi at Changing Habits has put together an Easter baking pack filled with organic, whole foods that you can use to create your own healthy Easter Treats. She has also thrown in some freebies!! Woohoo. Check it out here.

♥ The BEST healthy hot cross bun recipes to suit any diet can be found here.

♥ Dairy Free Chocolate Cream Easter Eggs from Lisa at Happy Tummies.

♥ Paleo Creme Eggs from Hold the Grain.

♥ Bunny Butt Pancakes from Edible Life in YYC. Use a healthy pancake recipe like one of these.

♥ Sugar Free Easter Chocolates from Becomingness.

I would love to know what ideas and recipes you have lined up for a healthy Easter! Share with us!

Stocking Stuffers and Secret Santas under $15

November 27, 2014 · 5 Comments

Stocking Stuffers and Secret Santas under $15

I have so many awesome ideas here for you for Stocking Stuffers and Secret Santas!

They are all healthy, natural, fair trade, organic or eco-friendly and the best bit? All under $15 and most under $10.

What do you put in stockings? Share your ideas with us.

Wooden Pig Baby Toy

Vanilla Lip Balm

Click Critterz

Bamboo Refillable Pen

Heirloom Seeds

Bamboo Hair Brush

Miniature Christmas Gingerbreads

I Can Save the Earth book

Sanctum Body Essentials Kit

Set of Reusable Fruit and Vegetable Bags

Natural New Age Mum’s Christmas Gift Guide

November 20, 2014 · 46 Comments

Natural New Age Mum’s Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas shopping can be emotional, expensive and exhausting.

Never fear! I am here with a round-up of the best natural and new age gifts for Christmas. Grab a cuppa or a wine, sit back on your couch, browse and shop. Too easy.

I am not going to go all gender stereotyping and say Gifts for Her and Gifts for Him, but I do have a section for the ‘ridiculously hard to buy for‘ people, because we all have at least one of those to buy for!

Actually this gift guide sort of accidentally, maybe on purpose turned into my Christmas wish list. My birthday is five days after Christmas so I have even more chances of getting lucky!

What is on your Christmas Wish List???

♥ Vintage Soy Candle Kit from Lhami. Make your own funky soy candles! The kit includes eco soy wax, wicks, pure vanilla oil, a digital thermometer, 2 antique glasses and instructions. There is enough wax to make about 10 individual candles in the antique port glass size. Or you can try china teacups, or another mould. Your local op shop is the place to go for inspiration!

What a great fun idea to get stuck into on the holidays!! I want one!! Get it online from Lhami.

♥ Kelapa Organics Skincare Gift Box. This beautiful Aussie certified organic skincare range is based on organic coconut oil. I have been trialling it and I love it – it smells heavenly and leaves my skin soft and feeling fresh. The packs make awesome gifts – they are beautifully presented in a gift box with an eco-friendly touch. What I am loving most is the price! They are very, very reasonable and they are good-sized products – so less packaging waste.

This pack is the Natural Beauty pack and contains your basic beauty routine -cleanser, exfoliator, moisturiser and night cream. Kelapa also do shampoo and conditioner, body wash and lotion, hand cream and moisturizer with sunscreen.

♥ Pong Radiation Protection Phone Covers. Yep, I really need to get these for everyone in my family. Simone at Nourishing Hub stocks the Pong covers for iPhones and Samsungs. These covers cut radiation by up to 91%, redirecting radiation away from your head and body. The cases can also improve reception and conserve battery life.

Find out how it works and more details here.

♥ Sacred Self Organic Perfumes. Handcrafted with three signature scents, Mind, Body and Spirit, these perfumes are based on essential oils and infused with flower and gem essences to really give you a holistic experience. Each one comes with it’s own ritual card with a daily affirmation to remind you of how special you are. Michelle McGrath from Sacred Self has crafted something really beautiful and unique with these perfumes. It goes without saying that they are free from nasty toxins and synthetic fragrances that can harm your health. Get them online here.

♥ Durand Kombucha Crock. All the cool kids are making kombucha! Kombucha is a fermented drink made with tea, sugar and scoby. It’s a cheap and effective way to get your daily probiotics and it’s fun to make. But you do need the right equipment or you could contaminate your batch. The Durand Kombucha crock has a plastic spigot and the pottery jar ensures your booch doesn’t get too much light, unlike glass jars. They are all handmade and hand decorated in Queensland and use non toxic glazes and no lead.

Get it online and delivered to your door – but give them a few weeks notice.

♥ Gratitude Journal and Diary. The daily practice of gratitude is one of the most powerful things you can do to change your life. This journal and diary is incredibly beautiful and makes your practice a special ritual. As well as a daily space to record your blessings, it also has a diary, moon orientation chart, inspirational quotes and an astrology guide. Gorgeous.

Get it online.

♥ Believe in People Mug. This range of inspirational mugs and crockery from artist, Rob Ryan is so lovely. I am really liking this one the most though – the colours and the little bird are super cute. They come beautifully gift boxed as well. Add in some homemade biccys and you have a really sweet and inexpensive gift. Get it online.

♥ Aromatherapy Diffuser. A diffuser is one of the best gifts I have ever been given. I have two now and I absolutely adore them. We use them to purify the air in our home, to create a lovely mood and they are also useful when anyone is sick. Depending on which oils you use, you can use them for all sorts of things. I use the Celebrate and Uplift blend from Twenty 8 when I need a bit of motivation to do housework and the Peace and Meditation blend at night time to get everyone chilled out. The diffuser is my preference over a candle burner because I don’t have to monitor the flame. Just set and forget. Aromatherapy has so many gorgeous health benefits. If you haven’t yet discovered this amazing modality, get into it! Get a diffuser and oils online from Twenty 8.

♥ Recycled Sari Handbag. This recycled sarislouch bag is handmade in Bangladesh for Oxfam. It has an internal zip and a pocket for mobile phones. I am in love with this bag!! Supporting this fair trade project helps women in Bangladesh earn an income. Get it online from Oxfam.

♥ Stainless Steel Popsicle Maker. I have wanted one of these for ages. Freezing food and drinks in plastic is something that worries me as BPA is not stable at extreme temperatures and can leach into your food. There is no need to worry with this iceblock maker which is made from stainless steel and has wooden sticks. The frame holds them steady in the freezer. Get it online (love the stainless ice cube trays too Santa!).

♥ Janella’s Super Natural Foods. This one is going to be popular under the tree this year! Naturopath, nutritionist, wellness coach, herbalist and environmentalist, and wholefood advocate, Janella Purcell has released her new cookbook, just in time for Christmas. 150 delicious recipes based on the food is medicine principle. Love it! Get it online .

♥ Kylie Kwong’s Lotus Tableware Set. Designed exclusively for Oxfam, Kylie has designed this beautiful ‘Lotus’ dinnerware and it has been hand crafted and hand painted by female artisans in Vietnam. You can get it as a whole set or just buy individual pieces (from just $3.95). I am so in love with the teapot! Get it online at the Oxfam Shop.

♥ Wu Tao Dance DVD. Wu Tao is a healing dance developed by Aussie mum, Michelle Locke. It’s fun, easy, effective and it can help with all sorts of health problems from stress and depression to diabetes and arthritis. I have the DVD and the books and can’t wait to get stuck in over the holidays and give it a go. Nourishment for the mind, body and spirit. Get it online, directly from Michelle. ♥ Bamboo Serving Bowls. I am sucker for a nice salad bowl and I love these from Casa Uno. Made from bamboo, they are eco-friendly as well as very chic. Get them online.

♥ Wellbeing Magazine Subscription. One of my favourite magazines – Wellbeing is the Natural New Age Mum bible! It has well-researched, intelligent and informative articles, recipes and all sorts of interesting things. I can get lost in a copy for weeks.

Even better value if you get a yearly subscription – you save nearly 30% off the cover price.

♥ Spiralizer. Another thing all the cool kids are doing – spiralizing their veges to make zoodles!! This is a fun way to get kids to eat veges and make a pasta substitute out of zucchini. Sarah from The Raw Food Store has tried lots of them and now she recommends the Gefu one for it’s staying power and ease of use. Get it online from Sarah here.

For Ridiculously Hard to Buy For People:

Yep, we all have one. I hope these ideas help. Think outside the box! ♥ Glasses Stand. A place to perch your glasses or sunnies and never lose them again! So cute! Handcarved from sheesham wood in India by Oxfam partner, Asha Handicrafts. These programs help struggling communities make a living in a fair and ethical way. Love it. Get the wooden spectacle stand from the Oxfam shop.

♥ Cheese Making Kit. These cool cheese making kits from Mad Millie have everything you need to start making your own cheese at home. You just add milk! Contains reusable equipment and quality ingredients – nothing artificial or nasty here. You can make up to 7 kgs of feta, halloumi, cream cheese, cottage cheese and quark. It’s pretty impressive turning up to a party with some fresh cheese on an antipasto platter and tell everyone you made it yourself!

Get it online. ♥ Goats, ducks, chickens, pigs, water and wells. Just some of the awesome charity gifts that Oxfam Unwrapped offer. We love buying these. Oxfam sends your recipient a cute card with what charity gift you have bought for them and details of how it helps someone in need. Gifts start at just $10. Check out the range online.

Where to shop:

These are some more great online stores to check out that have ec0-friendly, upcycled or natural gifts.

Biome Eco Stores for all things good for the planet

Shop Naturally for a huge range of all things natural and healthy

Yardgames for outdoor and educational toys

Hello Charlie for eco baby and toddler

The Raw Food Store for a range of eco-kids products, appliances and food

Oxfam Australia for fair-trade gifts, food and clothes

Okay that’s my round-up! I think I had better email my lovely family this link. So many amazing people making amazing natural products. What is on your wish list? I would love to know.

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